Implementation of the individual placement and support pilot program in Spain.

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Services Research
• Supported Employment Interventions
• Vocational Rehabilitation

Background:

• High unemployment and traditional pre-employment training dominated in Catalonia.
• The need for effective supported employment models for individuals with mental disorders was evident.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the adoption and implementation of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) in Catalonia between 2013 and 2017.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of IPS in promoting competitive job placement for people with mental disorders.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal, mixed-methods approach was employed.
• The Avedis Donabedian Research Institute (FAD) designed, trained, implemented, and evaluated the project.
• The study involved 7 employment services and 12 mental health centers, following participants from October 2013 to December 2017.

Main Results:

• The project facilitated 1,188 new competitive jobs, increasing the competitive employment rate from 16% to 43%.
• IPS fidelity improved by 44% (organizational) and 34% (services).
• Employment quality mirrored the general market (94% temporary jobs), with qualitative insights into recovery, inter-service collaboration, and practitioner views.

Conclusions:

• Strong leadership, consistent training, and fidelity to the IPS model were key to its successful establishment.
• IPS is an important intervention for obtaining and maintaining competitive employment and supporting recovery for individuals with mental health conditions.